REVIEW ARTICLE

OVERVIEW OF THE SKINKS OF SRI LANKA

Abstract

Sri Lanka is home to 34 species of skinks represented by five families. These include newly described species resulting from recent explorations as well as species whose existence in Sri Lanka was doubted earlier. Of these, 29 species are endemic to Sri Lanka while 20 species are threatened with extinction. Compared to other reptiles, these diminutive lizards have received the least amount of attention in Sri Lanka, and thus are the least known in terms of systematics, biology and ecology. In this review, we discuss the historical, systematic and distribution aspects and the conservation status of the species of skinks in the five families of Sri Lankan skinks.

Keywords: Historical Aspects, Diversity, Distribution, Conservation

How to Cite: Anslem de Silva,, Ukuwela,Kanishka D.B, (2017). OVERVIEW OF THE SKINKS OF SRI LANKA.WILDLANKA, 5(4):Pages 150-160

Published On:2017-12-31

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